Trends in Tobacco Leaf Usability

The farmers and the buyers are partners in the production and purchase of usable tobacco leaf for manufacture into products acceptable to the consumer. The blend in these products and their ultimate sales price in the market place alters over time. Both parties must continually be aware of, and react to, these changes, if they are to stay in business. The principles of leaf purchase with regard to selection of ideal subjective looks, particularly emphasizing colour, maturity and plant position, will not be radically changed, but they must be coupled with acceptable, objective chemical contents to ensure subsequent, accurate product blending and favourable smoking properties. High technology in cigarette manufacture also demands that the threshed product, after green leaf processing, notably particle size, objectionable stem, and stem in lamina, together with packing moisture and minimal foreign matter, must meet strict specifications. The growing, curing, marketing, and purchase of leaf, together with its green leaf processing and cigarette manufacture, have all become more objective in definition. Usability, in relation to all these factors, is therefore what is attractive to the buyer/manufacturer and ultimately to the consumer, but the actual inclusion of leaf in a particular product is also related to its price. Usability and price play a major role in leaf selection and these are discussed.